Cayman Islands

dependent territory of the UKIndependence none (dependent territory of the UK)

Cayman Islands as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 77 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalGeorge Town

Area260 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of

Populationas each edition published it

33,192 people July 1995 est. · 26,356 in 1990

Population growth% a year

4.3% 1995 est. · 4.35% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 36.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.1 years 1995 est. · 77.1 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.43 children per woman 1995 est. · 1.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

8.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 10 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$23,000 1993 est. · $23,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1.4% 1991 · 4.4% in 1993

Geography

Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of | the way from Cuba to Honduras

14 fields

Land useshare of 260 sq km

permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 8%forest and woodland 23%other 69%arable land 0% in all

Area

260sq km

land area: 260 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

160km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

Climate

tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Terrain

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Natural resources

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Environment

current issues:: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
natural hazards:: hurricanes (July to November)
international agreements:: NA

Note

important location between Cuba and Central America

People

15 fields

Population

33,192

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 4.3% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

14.79Death

4.98Net migration

33.2

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years77.1

75.37 · 78.81

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy98%

98% · 98%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)

Ethnic divisions

mixed 40%white 20%black 20%expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Labor force

8,061

by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA

Infant mortality rate

8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Caymanian(s)
adjective:: Caymanian

Religions

United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations

Government

Dependent territory of the UK; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor and President of the Executive Council Michael GORE (since 15 September 1992)

19 fields

Names

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Cayman Islands

Administrative divisions

8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:: Governor and President of the Executive Council Michael GORE (since 15 September 1992)
cabinet:: Executive Council; 3 members are appointed by the governor, 4 members elected by the Legislative Assembly

Legislative Assembly

election last held November 1992 (next to be held November 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (15 total, 12 elected)

Judicial branch

Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Member of

CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag;
the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Economy

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$23,000

(1993 est.)

Real growth rate

1.4%

(1991)industrial production growth: growth rate NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

2.5%

(1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1992)

Budget

Revenues

$141.5 millionExpenditures

$160.7 million (1991)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 80,000 kW

Electricity production

230 millionElectricity consumption per capita

6,899 (1993)

The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings) and offshore financial services, with the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering mainly to visitors from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $700 million (1993 est.)

Exports

$10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
partners:: mostly US

Imports

$312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)

commodities:: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
partners:: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

External debt

$15 million (1986)

Industries

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, building materials, furniture making

Agriculture

minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming

Illicit drugs

a major money-laundering center for illicit drug profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $26.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $35 million

Currency

1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18 November 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 3 in all

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

160Railroads

Highways: (main roads) · paved: NA · unpaved: NA

Highways

total:: 160 km (main roads)
paved:: NA
unpaved:: NA

Ports

Cayman Brac, George Town

Merchant marine

total:: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 321,434 GRT/583,348 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 7, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7

note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 6 ships, India 5, Norway 3, US 3, Greece 1, Sweden 1, UAE 1